Enjoy the long weekend!

When the Hebrew month of "Adar enters, we increase in joy" which we are commanded to do throughout the whole month. Today, indeed, is the first day of Adar, which will lead us onto Purim. Our classrooms have been filled with sweet children celebrating the making of Humantaschen cookies, as we, as a school, prepare for Purim.

Purim, however, is also a time to remember and reach out to the needy, as we prepare our Mishloachei Manot- deliveries of goods. Next Friday, children in Ulpan will be preparing those manot, as did the Religious Sunday school children last Sunday. This year, Jan Robertson is preparing Mishlochai Manot together with the children of Ulpan Shabbat, and arranging a visit to the Regency Fair Oaks Jewish senior living facility.

The seniors at the Kensington were thrilled to have TBD's children keep them company. That truly was a Jewishly Warm and Relevant Mitzvah which we would like to pursue. If you would like to join Jan and the children in enlightening the residents at the Fair Oaks, please be in touch with Jan. Her mail: janrobertson@aol.com

Wishing you a restful family time this Presidents weekend!

Shalom,

Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director, writing on behalf of TBD Religious School's team.

Interesting Reads

What is Jewishly Warm and Relevant? http://www.templebd.com/images/TBD/Forms/Jewishly_Warm_and_Relevant_article_.pdf

For the first time in its history, the Gerber spokesbaby is a child with Down syndrome

http://www.cnn.com/2018/02/07/health/first-gerber-baby-down-syndrome-trnd/index.html

Ulpan Shabbat at TBD

Our last Ulpan Shabbat class was filled with Ulpan + Shabbat activities. The children cooked their Shabbat meals, learned to write each other's Hebrew names, heard the story of Purim from Rabbi Lachtman, gave food donation to the hungry, and made Humantaschen. Imma Shabbat, Rachel, together with her mother and grandmother, blessed over the Challa and grape juice. The children then led the beginning of Shabbat services together with Cantor Schwartz and Rabbi Lachtman.

Humantaschen Anyone?

Morah Shoshana and Morah Sarah's recipe:

1/2 cup margarine (softened)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 1/2 cups flour

Cream together the margarine and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder and flour and mix thoroughly. Divide into four parts and wrap in wax paper. Chill for at least an hour.

Heat oven to 375. Roll dough on lightly floured board to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown. (Makes about 3 dozen)

Jan's Ulpan Shabbat Recipe:

4 cups sifted flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 eggs, well beaten

1/2 cups vegerable oil

grated rind of 1 lemon or orange

Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together into a large bowl. Add the eggs, oil, and grated rind. Mix very well. Turn unto lightly floured surface and roll to a thickness of 1/4" rounds. Place a heaping teaspoonful of your desired filling in the center of each round. Bring the edges of the cookie dough together to form a triangle. Pinch to seal, leaving a bit of filling visible in the center. Place on greased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 3750 oven until lightly browned- about 30 minutes.